Tuesday, April 30, 2019

~ End of April WIP's ~


 Good Morning Friends & Folk ~
happy Tuesday to you all!

a little bit overcast today, but milder temps than yesterday...
still, the pollen has me itching and sneezing like crazy!

I just wanted to share my latest WIPs with you
{Works In Progress}

working simultaneously on all three of these:
this one being the most recent design...
{I'll share the names of these soon}





〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️
this one below, 
a Hallowe'en design that I started last year ~
will be finished and offered for 2019...
her little feet crack me up.
 


using a dial-hoop that my mom gave me ~ 
 

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️
and this one below,
a Yuletide design that I started recently....
will be all one color on that fabulous red gingham linen!
 



what's in your workbasket? 
are you joining in on #Stitchmaynia2019? 
here is a link to the Stitch Maynia FB page:


Blessings from the Farm 
~ Lori

Saturday, April 27, 2019

~ Doll Quilt Class ~


 Hello Friends & Folk!
happy Saturday evening to you all ~
what a beautiful day we had weather-wise! 
high & dry, sunshiney and cool temps with a slight breeze...
perfect in my book!

Today was our hand stitched Doll Quilt class here in the Studio at Notforgotten Farm ~
{{ we have so much fun at our classes, I'm surprised we get anything accomplished! }}

Yesterday, in preparation for the class today,
Joan, Robin M. & I cut hundreds of 4-1/2 squares 
from some of my beautiful cotton quilting fabrics 
~ that I have been hoarding saving for such a class...

I wanted my students to be able to choose their own color-story for their own quilt ~
and, to my surprise ~ there wasn't one tussle over the fabric!
{I had nightmares about not having enough of 'this' or 'that' fabric 
and having to break up a cat-fight or two!}

I love the old looking fabrics in antique quilts..
so I lean towards the wonderful reproduction s that are available for quilters today ~
and try to keep the prints simple and charmingly humble...



while we stitched, 
we had the opportunity to see up close and personal 
the wonderful collections of Miss Joan, and Miss Barbara who were kind enough to bring theirs along for show & tell...oh my stars and garters!!


Here is Miss Joan's collection ~
 


I have to add that I inadvertently hung the green-bordered quilt on the far right UPSIDE DOWN!

and here is Miss Barbara's collection~
 

me, myself and I personally ~ 
was/am infatuated by this teeny tiny hand stitched doll quilt below!!!!
I mean, c'mon...just LOOK at it!
the minute squares, the fabrics, the border, the stitching, the wonkiness, the SIZE!
 

... and here is the back of said treasure ~ 
simple plain muslin but you can see those little hand stitches....in brown thread no less!
I tried to steal confiscate borrow this little quilt from Miss Barbara by stuffing it onto my bra, which is off limits to EVERYone ~ but she said no-go.
so then I lied and told her I LICKED it and that now it just HAD to be mine, but again...nope.
*sigh* 
it's ok, 
I know that Miss Barbara loves it so very much 
~ and will take thee best care of it {for me} lol


ok, on to the ladies quilts!!!!

here is Miss Robin H's ~
she chose mustards and browns and reds....
 

Miss Anita chose blues, cheddars and browns...
 

Miss Pat decided on a beautiful mix of subdued hues, with that pop of blue!
 

Miss Dawn helped us today by showing us how she miters corners ~ 
her colors are happy & fun!


 Miss Barbara, {owner of 'my' little quilt, lol}
chose green, blues and browns...


Miss Joan stitched our class model for us, 
in a variety of blues with an added triangle patch!


Miss Helena worked her little quilt in vibrant reds & blues...then decided to use a
super fun & bright yellow backing! 
here she is, embellishing her project with hand embroidered flowers....


Miss Shari chose reds and cheddars/golds for her little quilt... 
so pretty!!!


and, last but certainly not least ~
Miss Janice chose a sweet palette of colors that are perfect for a antique-inspired little quilt...

Miss Janice, 
thank you for coming today 
& we look forward to having you with us more and more!
♥️


 the little quilt below, 
was one I stitched a while back and gave to Miss Joan ~
I tried to make a small Flying Geese design, but in my usual wonky-way, screwed it up 
stitched patched backwards...
but it is that humble-ness that we love, isn't it? 
~ whether old or newly created.


Miss Shari & Mr. Steve
 always bring their fur-baby, "Cassie" with them to class...
such a sweet little hound dog she is...all tuckered out in her bed! 
Bless her little heart ~
 

OH! am I tired ~ but my heart is full once-again...
full of friendship and love ~ laughter and good food! {thank you everyone!}
 
 and as I wrote on the Studio chalboard today...
A Friend, like an Old Quilt ~
is both a treasure and a comfort.

Blessings from the Farm 
~ Lori

Thursday, April 25, 2019

~ New Class Listed !!! ~

 Good Evening Friends & Folk!
I have updated our Class & Events Schedule to include this ~


Woolen Lavender Class at Notforgotten Farm
Saturday May 18th 2019 10:00 - 4:00 


Learn how to create a beautiful lavender bouquet from wool! 
all wools and materials are included to create a bouquet of 12 stems {6 long/6 shorter} 
of lavender ~ leaves included!

students will also take home
 one of my hand painted little red wooden buckets to display your bouquet in ~


Class size is limited to 13 students ~
Class Fee ~ $55.00 per student ~
Light Refreshments served or bring your own lunch ~

To Register:
kindly call 434-263-6508
we graciously accept Paypal, checks/mo or call with credit card

You can see our Classes & Events Schedule by clicking on the LINK on my sidebar, upper right ~

Blessings from the Farm
 ~ Lori

~ Preparation ~

I've been gathering some of my very favorite & special cotton fabrics
for my students that will be here on Saturday for our
 ~ Hand Stitched Doll Quilt Class ~




...it will be so much fun seeing everyone's small quilt when finished ~
can't wait to see everyone...
also, there are 2 spots open if anyone is interested in joining us!
email me: notforgottenfarmwitch@gmail.com or call the studio, 434.263.6508
there will be no Open Studio on Saturday, but there will be Open Studio on Friday {tomorrow}.

see ya then!
 
Blessings from the Farm
 ~ Lori

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

~ A Handy Tip ~

 Good Morning Friends & Folk!
a glorious Tuesday on tap for us here at the Farm ~

...sunshine and warm temps, along with a subdued breeze 
will have me stitching on the front porch swing after my chores are done.

as you may know, I am stitching a new design that is entirely made up as I go ~
I sometimes feel this helps my work look more primitive, and...
well this one fits that bill completely!

the border hasn't met up at all the way I had hoped for,
as you can see on the bottom left under the yellow house I am stitching:


no worries, 
as I said before I will embrace this as a happy accident and roll with it.

 Look closely at where my needle is below:
you can see that I am stitching the windows on this tiny house ~ but ~
I am stitching them over the already-filled in house!

the threads by the way, 
of this fabulous tiny dwelling are WDW;  Schneckley, Confederate Gray & Terrapin
SO beautiful together!
I find that by filling in all of my stitches. especially on a house ~ 
then going back in and stitching the doors/windows/details 
helps keep me from making a counting mistake...
~ you all know I love frogs, but not of the cross stitch variety!!!


my stitches may look a bit different than yours, too
as I like to wax my threads before I stitch ~ the wax keeps the threads tight and neat-looking.

also, I am a 'backwards' cross stitcher...meaning, I work from right to left when I stitch,
and turn my work upside-down to stitch row-by-row. 

Sounds confusing, but
~ being dyslexic, I have to find certain ways to do things 
so my brain and hands can communicate my thoughts into what I want as a finished product!

I think in my next post I'll will show you what I mean by 'backwards' stitching...
~ or ~ perhaps a short video will show better what I mean.
♥️


So, how many of you have stitched over your work like I mentioned above?
and how many of you will do it now that I mentioned it?
inquiring minds....

Blessings from the Farm
 ~ Lori

Sunday, April 21, 2019

~ Easter Sunday ~


'Twas Easter-Sunday.
 The full-blossomed trees
Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
   


~ we celebrated an early Easter Dinner with Hannah and Peters' family from CT yesterday,
so today will begin the left-over ham phase of our holiday meal!

So today we will enjoy a quiet day here on our beloved farm, 
watch a few old movies and perhaps go for a walk
before Hannah heads back to Richmond....

Hoping your day will be filled with sweets, 
peace and those who love you most!

🌸 ~ 🌼 ~ 🌺 ~ 🌼 ~ 🌸
Happy Easter


Blessings from the Farm
 ~ Lori

Saturday, April 20, 2019

~ Fudge & Nuts! ~

This post has nothing to do with fudge...
or nuts for that matter.
but
I'm sure you can figure out a couple of choice words I may have used, 
and perhaps may have even concocted a few new 'choice' words 
~ when I got to the other side of my border that I was stitching
and this happened:


I will not fret over this.
{I keep telling myself} 
I will not fret!

instead ~ 
I will embrace the mistake as being "inspired" by those school girl samplers of long ago,
whose borders didn't quite meet up either:






I do have a perfect verse that I will be including within this humble border of mine tho,
one that speaks of my frustration upon realizing my mistake, but also with a bit of humor...

on to the next portion of the border next...
stay tuned!

Blessings from the Farm
 ~ Lori

Friday, April 19, 2019

~ Easter Wishes...Easter Witches ~

Hello everyone! 
popping in to say that our little Farm Shop & Studio
is OPEN today & tomorrow
10:00 - 4:00

and in case I don't get another chance here to wish you all a Happy Easter ~
here are a few of my favorite little Easter Witch postcards from Sweden...
Glad Pask!





 





Blessings from the Farm
 ~ Lori